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From a private collection of Chinese and Japanese works of art collected before 1971.

Inside painted smokey rock crystal bottle of flattened rectangular form, painted with 2 figures in a landscape on one side and the reverse with a sleeping figure being watched by another from behind rocks, signed Ye Zhongsan. Coral stopper with stained bone collar and ivory spoon. Height 5.5 cms.

Can anyone help in terms of what the 2 scenes represent. I recall the sleeping figure scene from somewhere but can't remember what it relates to.

This is the reverse I believe. I can't find any specific information on the imagery. I don't think there is any special meaning to the woman peaking through the rock formation as this appears on many Ye bottles and does not appear to be connected to any specific story. My best guess is that this is a scene from Liaozhai Zhiyi or Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio which looks like a favorite Ye Family subject.